Remodeling Doesn't Have To Be Hard

Wood blinds bring warmth and elegance to nearly any room where they've been hung. Keeping your wood blinds free of blemishes like mildew is an important part of maintaining the beauty of your blinds. The following tips will help you keep your blinds free of mildew and looking their best.

What causes wood blinds to grow mildew?

Mildew often grows in moist, semi-dark places, so it's not very common for wood blinds to grow mildew. If your wood blinds do happen to grow mildew, this may be a result of moisture against the window or the wall where the blinds are hung.

What can you do to get rid of mildew on your blinds?

If your blinds have mildew, you can treat the problem by cleaning the blinds thoroughly with vinegar and water. Put equal parts water and vinegar into a spray bottle, then spray the mildewed part of the blinds with the solution. Use a clean rag to gently wipe the blinds. You may need to do this several times to kill the mildew and clean the wood. When you're finished cleaning the blinds, dry them thoroughly, then hang them up in a room with low humidity for a few days.

If the mildew penetrates the finish of the blinds and can't be removed with a rag, you can sand the mildew from the surface of the blinds with fine-grain sandpaper. The sanded sections of the blinds will need to be refinished when this is done. To refinish your blinds, purchase a stain that matches the color of the blinds, and apply the stain to the wooden slats. Test the stain on a discrete part of the blinds before covering the entire sanded area with the stain. Allow the stain time to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions before putting the blinds back on the wall.

What can you do to prevent your wood blinds from growing mildew again?

You can prevent your wood blinds from growing mildew by doing the following:

• Promote air circulation around the blinds. Keep the slats in the open position so that the slats are horizontal instead of vertical.
• Address any humidity problems in the room where the blinds are located. Moisture and condensation on the window are generally the result of excess humidity in the air inside your home. This could be caused by a leak in your walls or poor ventilation. If the wooden blinds are located in a room that is naturally humid, like a bathroom or a kitchen, take care to keep the vents in the room turned on for a portion of each day. This will help rid the room of excess humidity. If the blinds are located in a room that should not be naturally humid, like your living room or a bedroom, have your home investigated for wall leaks, gutter leaks and roof leaks. All of these problems could contribute to high humidity in your home.
• Clean the blinds on a regular basis. Make it part of your regular cleaning routine to clean your blinds with vinegar. This way if mildew does grow on your blinds, you'll be able to prevent it from becoming a big problem.

If you're interested, companies like House Of Drapery may be able to help with more information about blinds.